To run or not to run with a cold?

Though it’s not an exact science, running can even help with some cold symptoms because exercise releases adrenaline, also called epinephrine, which is a natural decongestant. This is why a run can clear out nasal passages. If you decide to run, keep the pace easy and stick to shorter distances. These runs should be about maintaining your fitness while sick, not about improving it. Watch for dizziness, nausea, elevated heart rate, or abnormal sweating and stop running immediately if you experience any of these symptoms. Even with precautions, training through an illness is not without risk. Runners may escalate a simple cold into something much more serious, like a sinus infection, respiratory tract infection, or pneumonia. It’s very important to listen to your body. When in doubt, sit it out because you might wind up having to take much more time off from training. (See w...